Rotary fastener and installation thereof



March 28, 1944. MURPHY 2,344,948

ROTARY FASTENER AND INSTALLATION THEREOF Filed May l2, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Mar. 28, l

UFSETEE ao'rsnr ras'rsmm sun INSTALLATION 'rnaanor Howard 3. Murphy, Greenwood, Mesa, assignor to United-Ears Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mara, a corporation of Massachusetts Application May 12, 1942, Serial No. 442,602

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to fasteners for securing together two plates or sheet-like parts, such as airplane cowling and the like, and aims generally to improve existing iasteners for that purpose.

The fastener of the present invention is of the rotary stud type, particularly designed for, though not exclusively limited to, use for rigidly fastening airplane cowling in flush-tight relationship. In prior fasteners of this type the rotary stud usually cooperates with cam means on the socket member for efiecting tight clamping engagement between the parts. The extreme pressures to which the cooperating stud and cam parts are subjected in airplane use, together with the vibrations usually present, present a tendency for the stud to be rotated in an unlocking direction. v

The present invention aims to provide'an improved cowl fastener of the rotary stud type, which can be simply rotated to a locked position on a cam and heldagainst accidental unlocking by additional locking means.

In the drawings which illustrate one preferred embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view oi the socket member and a portion of its attached plate;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

F g. 3 is a side elevation of the socket member;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the locking cap;

Fig. 6 is a side view thereof;

Fig. '7 is an edge elevation of the stud member;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view similar to Fig. l, of the assembled socket. and stud, the latter being in locked position; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line ill-id of Fig. 9.

Referring to the embodiment of theinvention illustrated, the cooperative studand socket mem= bers of the fastener are attached respectively to supporting members i and 2 such as cowling sheets adapted to be secured together in flushtight relationship.

The supporting member i is formed with an opening 3, preferably countersunk as shown in Fig. 10. to receive a tapered head 6 of' an elongated stud shank 5 rotatable in said opening, the shank 5 being considerably longer than the thickness of the member I so that the stud may be rotatable as well as axially movable in the aperture 3. A split locking ring 6 on the shank 5 at the end opposite the head it prevents removal of the stud from the memmr i.

The inner end 0! the stud may be provided with a locking head comprising a reduced neck 1 and laterally extending radial arms or shoulders 8 of a length approximately equal to the diameter of the shank "out of a reduced width relative thereto, said arms or shoulders a presenting laterally extending portions adapted for looking engagement upon surfaces of a female socket member. The stud preferably is formed with a flat-sided nose 9 beyond the shoulders 8 for the purpose hereinafter described. The underside faces of said shoulders 8 may be inclined as at it to provide cams to facilitate movement of the shoulders over the cooperating surface of the socket member, and the head as of the stud may be slotted or otherwise shaped-as at i for rotating the stud.

The socket member Ii is attached, as by suitable fastening means 52, to the other supporting member or sheet 2 to cover a stud-receiving opening l3 in said member. Preferably, the studreceiving aperture is of a size to receive the in wardly extending countersunk faces of the memher I (see Fig. 10), and the socket member may be rigidly attached to the sheet 2 so asto cover the opening,

.The socket or female fastening member ii is preferably formed of thin hardened metal, such as steel, and is drawn to provide a tubular studreceiving barrel N of a diameter and depth to receive the stud, the base portion i5 of said socket overlying the surface of the member 2 for receiving the fastening means 92. The outer wall of the barrel portion it is formed with an elongated aperture IE to admit the locking head of the stud, the marginal edges of said aperture being dished outwardly on opposite sides thereof to form locking cams ii for cooperating locking engagement with the shoulders 3 as the stud is rotated. In this position the fiat-sided nose Q of the stud as well as at least a portion of the shoulders 8 are disposed outwardly of the member ii, as shown in Fig. 10.

According to the invention, means are provided for positively holding the stud in its locked position to prevent retrograde movement on the cams I! when subjected to pressure and vibration. In the illustrated form of the invention shown herein a locking cap 20 of drawn metal, such as steel, is fitted over the socketmember H, the outer wall of which is provided with an elongated aperture 2! to receive the flat-sided nose 9 and a portion of the shoulders 8. the opposed longitudinal marginal edges of the slot being formed with fiat marginal faces or flanges 22 engaging the fiat side faces of nose 9 or shoulders 8.

The opposite open end of the cap may be formed with a laterally projecting flange or rim 23 serrated or otherwise formed along its periphery to provide a series of detent-engaging recesses or notches 24 (see Fig. adapted to be engaged by a suitable fixedly mounted detent 25,

which conveniently may be formed on an annular member 26 surrounding the cap and supported as at 21 on diametrically opposed posts 28 on the socket base IS, in such a way that the ring member 25 cannot rotate relatively to the socket member. The ring member 26 preferably is formed of spring metal so that the detent 25 will ride over the notches when the stud is deliberately rotated as by a tool inserted in the slot 4 but is of sufilcient rigidity to prevent accidental rotation of the stud and cap when subject to vibration.

In use, when the supporting members i and 2 are assembled together. the stud member 5 is moved axially in the socket I I so that the flatsided nose 9 and shoulders 8 extend through the aperture l6 and above the cams I1. In this position'the flanges 22, defining the elongated opening in the cap 20, are aligned with the longitudinal sides of the opening l6 so that they receive and engage the flat side faces of the nose 9. The stud 5 may then be rotated by means of a tool inserted in the slot in the stud head, such rotation,moving the shoulders 8 across the cam ll of the socket and clamping the members I and 2 together under considerable pressure. Such rotation of the stud also causes rotation of the cap relative to the socket H and the detents 25. when rotated to any selected position, the engagement of the detents in the notches of the cap flange 24 prevent accidental rotation of the cap, and, of course, the stud as the flanges of the cap engage the faces of the stud nose 9.

To insure accurate positioning of the flanges 22 of the cap which define the elongated slot 2i therein in registry with the elongated slot l5 of the socket members. the cap maybe provided with a flnger movable between the opposed posts 28, thus limiting rotation of the cap relative to the socket H.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereby because the scope of my invention is best defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported; of a female fastening member mounted on another member to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arms of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affordin arm-engaging surfaces to receive said arms upon rotation of said stud. a cap member mounted on said female fastening member and engaging a portion of said stud to be rotatable therewith. and means fixedly mounted with reference to said female fastening members for engaging said cap member for holding said stud against accidental rotation.

2. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projectin arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported: of a barrel-shaped female fastening member mounted on another member to be' supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arms of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affording arm-engaging surfaces to receive said arms upon rotation of said stud, a cap member mounted on said female fastening member and engaging a portion of said stud to be rotatable therewith, and means fixedly mounted with reference to said female fastening member for engaging said cap member for holding said stud against accidental rotation.

3. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported; of afemale fastening member mounted on another member to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arms of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affording armengaging surfaces to receive said arms upon rotation of said stud.-a cap memberv mounted on said female fastening member and engaging a portion of said stud to be rotatable therewith, and fixedly mounted detent means with reference to said female fastening member for engaging said cap member for holding 'said stud against accidental rotation.

4. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported; of a female fastening member mounted on another member to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arms of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affording arm-engaging surfaces to receive said arms upon rotation of said stud, a cap member mounted on said female fastening member and formed with an elongated opening adapted to register with the opening of said socket member and to 5. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a I stud member formed with laterally projectin arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported; of a substantially rigid fe-.

male fastening member fixedly mounted on another member to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arm of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affording arm-engaging surfaces toreceive said arms upon rotation of said stud, a cap member mounted on said female fastening member and engaging a portion of said stud to be rotatable therewith, and means fixedly mounted with reference to said female fastening member for engaging said cap member for holding said stud against accidental rotation.

6. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and rotatably mounted in one of the members to be supported; of a female fastening member mounted on another member to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to permit passage of the projecting arm of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening affording arm-engaging surfaces to receive said arms upon rotation of said stud. a cap member mounted on said female fastening member and engaging a portion of said stud to be rotatable therewith, a series of notches formed on said cap member,

and fixedly mounted detent means engageable in said notches in selected rotary positions of said cap and stud tor holg said stud agalmt accidental rotation.

7. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and a non-circular nose having at least two flat sides, said stud member being rotatably mounted in one of the parts to be supported; of a socket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit the laterally projecting arms of said stud, a cap member rotatably mounted on said socket member and formed with a non-circular opening to receive and engage said stud nose, and locking means fixedly mounted with reference to said socket member and engaging said cap member for preventing accidental rotation of said cap and stud.

8. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and a non-circular nose having at least two fiat sides, said stud member beingrotatably mounted in one oil the parts to be supported; of a substantially cylindrical socket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit the laterally projecting arms of said stud, a cap member rotatably mounted on said socket member and formed with a non-circular opening to receive and engage said stud nose, and locking means fixedly mounted with reference to said socket member and engaging said cap member for preventing accidental rotation oi said cap and tud.

9. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and a, non-circular nose having at least two flat sides, said stud member being rotatably mounted in one of the parts to be supported; of a substantially cylindrical smket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit the laterally projecting arms of said stud, a cap mem ber rotatably mounted on said socket member and formed with a non-circular opening to receive and engage said stud nose, an outwardly extending rim on said cap member formed with an annular series of notches, and detent means formed with an elongated opening to admit thelaterally projecting 'arms of said stud, a cap member rotatably mounted on said socket member and ass oee annular series of notches, an annular member surrounding said cap member and fixedly mounted with reference to said socket member, and detent means on said annular member engaging in said notches.

11. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and a non-circular nose having at least two flat sides, said stud member being'rotatablymounted in one of the parts to be supported; of a substantially cylindrical socket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit the laterally projecting arms of said stud, a cap member rotatably mounted On said socket memher and formed with a non-circular openingto receive and engage said stud nose, an outwardly extending rim on said cap member formed with an annular series of notches, an annular member surrounding said cap member and fixedly mounted with reference to said socket member, and detent means on said annular member engaging in said notches, and means limiting rotative movements of said stud and cap member.

12. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and, a non-circular nose having at least two flat sides, said stud member being rotatably mounted in one of the parts to be supported; of a socket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit the laterally projecting arms of said stud, the marginal side portions of said opening being formed as outwardly sloping cams for receiving the projecting arms of said stud on rotation thereof, a cap member rotatably mounted on said socket member and formed with a non-circular opening to receive and engage said stud nose, and locking means fixedly mounted with reference to said socket member and engaging said cap member for preventing accidental rotation of said cap and stud.

formed with a non-circular opening to receive 13. In a rotary fastener, in combination with a stud member formed with laterally projecting arms and a non-circular nose having at least two flat sides, said stud member being rotatably mounted in one of the parts to be supported; of a socket member attached to another part to be supported and formed with an elongated opening to admit; the laterally projecting arms of said stud, a cap member rotatably mounted on said socket member and formed with a non-circular opening to receive and engage said stud nose, stud-engaging means on said cap member for engaging and locking the stud and cap members rotatively, and locking means fixedlymounted with reference to said socket member and engaging said cap member for preventing accidental rotation of said cap and stud.

HOWARD J. MURPHY. 

